NEW INFORMATION: Red-Tailed Boa Constrictor found

CHIPPEWA FALLS, Wis. (WEAU) -The snake that went missing in Chippewa Falls has been found.

The Chippewa Falls Police Department says the red tail boa constrictor that went missing from a home on West Spruce street was found in the home.

It says the snake was coiled up in the sun light near a window.

They believe it never got out of the house.

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CHIPPEWA FALLS, Wis. (CHIPPEWA FALLS POLICE DEPARTMENT NEWS RELEASE) - On 07/16/13 at 3:44pm, Mr. Victor Pirik contacted the Chippewa County Dispatch Center to report he thought his snake had escaped out an open window at his residence of 342 Spruce St. #3. As of this afternoon, the snake has not yet been located.

Mr. Pirik describes his snake as a 7’ Red Tailed Boa Constrictor. At its widest point the snake is 3” in diameter. It is a pale tan-ish brown in color with a red-ish area on the top near the back end of the snake. He does not have a picture of it, but it looks similar to this photo.

According to Mr. Pirik, he has owned this snake for 5 years and it has never shown any aggression towards a person or other animal. Mr. Pirik owns two pet rabbits and one small dog. The snake feeds on frozen rodents and has never been in the wild.

In an effort to keep the public informed about this incident and to learn more about Boa Constrictors, Lt. Matt Kelm of CFPD contacted Senior Investigator Keith Streff from the Animal Humane Center in Golden Valley, MN and learned that it can swim but prefers dry land. In its natural environment it prefers hollowed out logs or old mammal dens. Boa Constrictors are typically not aggressive and only intentionally kill what they can eat. They eat about every 45-60 days. They are nocturnal animals depending upon the temperature. They like day temps of 82-95 and night temps of 72-80. Colder than that they slow way down and will seek heat sources.

Mr. Streff further advised that this is a common pet from the varieties of snakes. If it is outside, because its cold blooded, it will probably be located on the east facing side of something that will keep heat like dark rocks or the like. Constrictors are not poisonous; they wrap around and squeeze their prey. They are a jungle animal which means that any environment that is not hot and warm, their metabolism will slow down. As a domestic snake, it most likely does not have developed predatory skills. His opinion was that if it was not found in the house, it is likely within a couple of blocks, tucked into a quiet place. On a scale of 1-10 for danger to the public, Mr. Streff rated it a 1-2. He also noted that this is not the same kind of Boa Constrictor that is terrorizing lower Florida’s wildlife. Those snakes have interbred with local snakes and have been there now for generations.

If you see the snake, step back quietly, and leave it alone. Call the Chippewa County Dispatch Center at 715.723.4424 x7 and report where you last observed it. The Chippewa Falls Police Department has contacted nearby Humane Officers who will assist in its capture. ----------------------------------Story from 7/19/13:

It disappeared from a home on the West Hill Tuesday, and now neighbors are concerned.

“I'm shaking right now because I don't' like snakes, you know, especially the one that's out on the loose that that’s big,” said snake owner’s neighbor Jan Treinen.

In the report the owner of the snake said the snake is not venomous.

Treinen says she’s known the snake's owner for nearly a year and never knew he had a boa constrictor in his apartment, on Spruce Street.

“The snake could actually eat Bugster (Treinen dog), so that's what I'm worried about; or any other animal that's out there,” added Treinen.

“My wife is uncomfortable with a 7-foot long boa constrictor wandering the city, and I understand that. It hasn't been deemed as dangerous but it has the potential for it,” said Mayor of Chippewa Falls Greg Hoffman.

The city of Chippewa Falls is in the process of making changes to its nuisance ordinance, after several dog attacks. And now the city wants to define what makes a dangerous or vicious pet.

“I don't think we want to single out a certain breed or even a certain type of pet, but we want to make sure that the citizens are safe, and they're not being impacted by their neighbors, whatever pet it is,” added Hoffman.

Hoffman says they want all pet owners to know that soon, knowingly having a pet that can harm other pets or people is going to cost them more; possibly through licensing fees, liability insurance or citations if that pet escapes.

If you see the missing boa constrictor, you're asked to call the Chippewa Falls Police Department.

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